Railroad-car manufacturer FreightCar America Inc. announced Monday afternoon that it plans to suspend production at its Roanoke manufacturing plant when workers complete their current work orders.

The Chicago-based company said in a news release it plans to impose “temporary suspension of railcar production on a selective basis until the railcar market strengthens.” It said operations might be extended if it receives additional orders but offered no additional information about that possibility.   

Approximately 210 employees will be affected by the suspensions but it is unclear whether that constitutes the plant’s entire workforce.

It also remains unclear when the employees are scheduled to complete the work they’re doing now.

In January, FreightCar announced it would be laying off 120 Roanoke workers on or before March 14.

According to today’s news release, operations at FreightCar’s Danville, Ill., plant will not be affected. Calls to FreightCar’s headquarters in Chicago were not returned and the company’s automated switchboard said the business was closed today.

FreightCar initially leased the former Norfolk Southern East End Shops in downtown Roanoke and started operations in 2005.